This journal focuses on trail riding and working with a trail trained horse. I am not yet blessed to have a 5,000 acre ranch space of my own to do with what I wish, nor to live a hundred miles away from the nearest shopping center with plenty of open riding country to use. I do however consider myself very lucky to be able to keep my horses at home, to have five horses, two of whom are above all else, suited for trails and, since I was able to retire early, to have a lot of time to spend doing what I enjoy.
I began riding at age 8 and am going to be 49 this year. Through the years, I’ve tried many things with horses; some have been dabbled in, some explored, and some, tried a few times and decided quickly it wasn’t for me. I dabbled in my youth in Western Pleasure showing, in more recent exploits, explored Western Dressage and tried arena jumping, general English riding, cutting, roping and barrel racing. What I always come back to is trails. Not because it is easy but, because there is no pinnacle, no point where you can claim a deliniated mastery, only continual learning. Every ride has the potential to become the challenge of your life.
There is always a bigger challenge to be had, something new to be done, a new obstacle that you have not seen before and ALWAYS something new to learn for BOTH horse and rider. Seek and ye shall find. Of all of the types of riding there is, trail riding requires a certain logically based, flexible, creative thinking that I never found in any of the other disciplines that I have tried.
Nature is a retreat, a place of ever changing order, beauty unpredictability and sometimes, danger. It is never the same place twice when it is left to its own way.
Warning, Mini Rant following: I often see the terms "just a trail rider" or "recreational rider" or even a reference to recreationally used horses as "pets" thrown around in nearly a disparaging way. As if to say, that because one is not paid to ride (the dividing line between recreational and professional), it requires no special skills, conditioning, discipline or knowledge from the horse or rider. It implies, either intentionally or unintentionally, that because there is no ribbon or paycheck at the end of a ride, there can be no knowledge, experience or approach worth consideration coming from them.
After all, if you are good at it, why not make $ doing it, right?. Some people would just rather ride their own horses than spend their time fixing other people's. The money isn't worth the cost in time and dealing with sometimes difficult people. It really can be that simple.
Like in all disciplines, in trail riding there are those who take the time to train the details and those who do not. Craigs list is filled with ill mannered horses that are rarely ridden beyond the occasional hack out every month or so, or are too old for winning competitions, are injured or disabled and automatically labeled as "trail horses". If you have ever test ridden some of them with the aim of seriously riding trails, it quickly becomes apparent which horses have the training, physical ability and/or demeanor to really be serious trail horses and which are just not naturally cut out for it.
However, just as a Western Pleasure rider might find it insulting to be lumped in with "peanut rollers", a saddle seat or dressage competitor might find it insulting to be lumped together with abusive training practices, people who peruse trail riding seriously (though recreationally) and who are constantly looking to improve their skills and that of their horses, also have the right to feel the same indignation when it is assumed their horses are spoiled "pets" and they are "just"____fill in the blank. (Mini rant done).
One of the Authors who most changed me in life was a man by the name of Ralph Waldo Emmerson. He was a leader in the transcendentalist movement of the early half of the 17th century (1820-50). I wouldn’t say I am a transcendentalist but, the older I get, the more their style of wisdom is appealing. For instance:
“Every minute you remain angry, you give up 60 seconds of peace of mind”
“Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail.”
“With the past, I have nothing to do; nor with the future. I live now.”
“Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow.”
“Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.”
“We are by nature observers, and thereby learners. That is our permanent state.”
Transcendentalists emphasize individualism, seeking your own true nature, not giving into the pressures of society (when given the chance, choose the road less traveled), the goodness of humans in their natural state, the values of self-reliance amongst other things.
I do part with Emerson on several issues but, without him, I never would have found Henry David Thoreau who, opened me up to the value of living simply in natural surroundings and learning from observing the natural world.
“Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.”
“Nature and human life are as various as our several constitutions. Who shall say what prospect life offers to another?”
“Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads.”
“Do what you love. Know your own bone; gnaw at it, bury it, unearth it, and gnaw it still.”
“I am grateful for what I am and have. My thanksgiving is perpetual.”
“The finest workers in stone are not copper or steel tools, but the gentle touches of air and water working at their leisure with a liberal allowance of time.”
“Could a greater miracle take place than for us to look through each other's eyes for an instant?”
“It is only when we forget all our learning that we begin to know.”
Great thanks to my Freshman High School English teacher who introduced me to the philosophies and musings of both of these gentlemen. They have come in handy throughout life. They taught me to stop and smell the roses instead of always worrying about the thorns.
If you don’t like the above quotes or attitudes, you can probably stop following this journal now, as it will probably waste your time.
This is who I am. It is how I approached raising five children, dealing with ups and downs in my life. Now, with three of the five on their own, I have a little peace and quiet, finally, getting to do what I want, when I want, for the first time since I was a child; namely, ride and make the horses I come into contact with, however briefly, better for having known me.
I began riding at age 8 and am going to be 49 this year. Through the years, I’ve tried many things with horses; some have been dabbled in, some explored, and some, tried a few times and decided quickly it wasn’t for me. I dabbled in my youth in Western Pleasure showing, in more recent exploits, explored Western Dressage and tried arena jumping, general English riding, cutting, roping and barrel racing. What I always come back to is trails. Not because it is easy but, because there is no pinnacle, no point where you can claim a deliniated mastery, only continual learning. Every ride has the potential to become the challenge of your life.
There is always a bigger challenge to be had, something new to be done, a new obstacle that you have not seen before and ALWAYS something new to learn for BOTH horse and rider. Seek and ye shall find. Of all of the types of riding there is, trail riding requires a certain logically based, flexible, creative thinking that I never found in any of the other disciplines that I have tried.
Nature is a retreat, a place of ever changing order, beauty unpredictability and sometimes, danger. It is never the same place twice when it is left to its own way.
Warning, Mini Rant following: I often see the terms "just a trail rider" or "recreational rider" or even a reference to recreationally used horses as "pets" thrown around in nearly a disparaging way. As if to say, that because one is not paid to ride (the dividing line between recreational and professional), it requires no special skills, conditioning, discipline or knowledge from the horse or rider. It implies, either intentionally or unintentionally, that because there is no ribbon or paycheck at the end of a ride, there can be no knowledge, experience or approach worth consideration coming from them.
After all, if you are good at it, why not make $ doing it, right?. Some people would just rather ride their own horses than spend their time fixing other people's. The money isn't worth the cost in time and dealing with sometimes difficult people. It really can be that simple.
Like in all disciplines, in trail riding there are those who take the time to train the details and those who do not. Craigs list is filled with ill mannered horses that are rarely ridden beyond the occasional hack out every month or so, or are too old for winning competitions, are injured or disabled and automatically labeled as "trail horses". If you have ever test ridden some of them with the aim of seriously riding trails, it quickly becomes apparent which horses have the training, physical ability and/or demeanor to really be serious trail horses and which are just not naturally cut out for it.
However, just as a Western Pleasure rider might find it insulting to be lumped in with "peanut rollers", a saddle seat or dressage competitor might find it insulting to be lumped together with abusive training practices, people who peruse trail riding seriously (though recreationally) and who are constantly looking to improve their skills and that of their horses, also have the right to feel the same indignation when it is assumed their horses are spoiled "pets" and they are "just"____fill in the blank. (Mini rant done).
One of the Authors who most changed me in life was a man by the name of Ralph Waldo Emmerson. He was a leader in the transcendentalist movement of the early half of the 17th century (1820-50). I wouldn’t say I am a transcendentalist but, the older I get, the more their style of wisdom is appealing. For instance:
“Every minute you remain angry, you give up 60 seconds of peace of mind”
“Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail.”
“With the past, I have nothing to do; nor with the future. I live now.”
“Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow.”
“Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.”
“We are by nature observers, and thereby learners. That is our permanent state.”
Transcendentalists emphasize individualism, seeking your own true nature, not giving into the pressures of society (when given the chance, choose the road less traveled), the goodness of humans in their natural state, the values of self-reliance amongst other things.
I do part with Emerson on several issues but, without him, I never would have found Henry David Thoreau who, opened me up to the value of living simply in natural surroundings and learning from observing the natural world.
“Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.”
“Nature and human life are as various as our several constitutions. Who shall say what prospect life offers to another?”
“Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads.”
“Do what you love. Know your own bone; gnaw at it, bury it, unearth it, and gnaw it still.”
“I am grateful for what I am and have. My thanksgiving is perpetual.”
“The finest workers in stone are not copper or steel tools, but the gentle touches of air and water working at their leisure with a liberal allowance of time.”
“Could a greater miracle take place than for us to look through each other's eyes for an instant?”
“It is only when we forget all our learning that we begin to know.”
Great thanks to my Freshman High School English teacher who introduced me to the philosophies and musings of both of these gentlemen. They have come in handy throughout life. They taught me to stop and smell the roses instead of always worrying about the thorns.
If you don’t like the above quotes or attitudes, you can probably stop following this journal now, as it will probably waste your time.
This is who I am. It is how I approached raising five children, dealing with ups and downs in my life. Now, with three of the five on their own, I have a little peace and quiet, finally, getting to do what I want, when I want, for the first time since I was a child; namely, ride and make the horses I come into contact with, however briefly, better for having known me.